Fire-poking apparatus



Dec. 6, 1927.

F. RAWSON FIRE POKING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1927 Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES FRANK RAWSON, OF RAWLINS, WYOMING.

FIREQPOKING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 24, 1927. Serial No. 163,252.

This invention relates to means for removing ashes, clinkers and other accumulation from the bed of a fire in locomotive and other steam boiler furnaces to maintain a clear and bright fire which is essential to a full head of steam when running at a high speed.

The invention contemplates a rake-like appliance arranged below and adjacent the grate, with its teeth opposite the spaces formed between the grate bars, and means for operating the appliance to project the teeth thereof into the bed of the fire for agitating the same, thereby disloding ashes, clinkers and other accumulation.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had .to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a locomotive engine illustrating the application of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the appliance.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the fire grate of the boiler furnace, the same being of usual or any preferred construction. A poking appliance is provided for each section of the.

tend into the spaces formed between the end grate bars, as shown most clearly in Figure 2. The intermediate teeth 3 normally occupy a position at the bottom of the grate to prevent injury thereto from the fire. The end teeth 4 function as guides to direct the appliance so as to insure the several teeth passing between the grate bars, so as to agitate the fuel bed and dislodge ashes, clinkers and the like.

It is observed that the poking appliance resembles a lawn rake and the several appliances are connected for simultaneous operation. An eye 5 is provided centrally of the bar 2 and receives a rod 6, a clamp screw 7 serving to secure cach of the appliances to the rod 6. A stem 8 depends from the rod 6 and one end of a lever 9 is coupled thereto,

the other end of the lever being connected to a lever 10 by means of a link 11 while the lever 10 is conveniently disposed within the cab of the engine, or other place for ready operation when it is required to poke the fire. It is observed that the arrangement is such as to admit of the apparatusbeing operated as a unit by means of a single part, as the lever 10, which is arranged in the most advantageous and convenient position for manipulation when required.

Guides 12 are provided to cooperate with the teeth 4 to direct the device in its vertical movements. These guides ,12 are, for convenience, attached to the ends of the grate sections and are open at their inner sides to receive the bar 2 when moved upwardly.

Having thus described the invent-ion, I claim:

1. The combination with a fire grate and guides pendant therefrom, of a fire poking device consisting of a toothed bar disposed beneath the grate andhaving certain teeth of greater length than the remaining teeth and engaging the pendant guides to direct the device in its vertical movement.

2. The combination with a fire grate and guides pendant from opposite sides thereof, of a fire poking device disposed beneath the grate and consisting of a bar having teeth projecting upwardly therefrom, the end teeth being of greater length than the remaining teeth and engaging the said guides to direct the device in its vertical movement.

In testimony whereof I affix-my signature.

FRANK RAWSON. [LSL] 

